Cigarette lighter



Feb. 21, 1950 1. FLORMAN CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Dec. 29, 1947 lruz ny F/orman Bailey, Sfephens, (f HueHl g Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER Irving Florman, New York, N. Y.

Application December 29, 1947, Serial No. 794,398

2 Claims.

The invention relates to cigarette lighters and more particularly to cigarette lighters of the pyrophoric type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a cigarette lighter of simple and efficient construction in which the liftin of the cover causes ignition of the lighter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette lighter in which a single mechanism serves both for connecting the cover to the igniting mechanism and for holding the cover resiliently in either open or closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this type which is simple and inexpensive.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in connection with such mechanism, a mounting for a snufler cap, in which a single piece serves for connecting the operating mechanism to the cover and for holding th snuller cap. Such an arrangement increases the durability of the lighter and at the same time decreases the cost of manufacture.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a lighter having a-cover pivotally mounted for covering and uncovering the wick, with a simple and efficient arrangement for mounting the cover, this arrangement being such that the cover can be removed when it is in raised position; whereas the holding means are inaccessible when the cover is in closed position.

With such an arrangement, there is no danger that the lighter cover will he accidentally opened in the pocket, which might cause ignition and serious injury. On the other hand, when use of the lighter is desired, its operation is simple and effective.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in front elevation a lighter embodying the invention with the cover in raised position;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the device in side elevation with parts in section and with the cover in raised 1 position;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view with th cover broken away;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 shows in side elevation certain parts of the mechanism.

The invention includes a casing 2 having therein a fuel chamber 4, a top wall 5, a wick holding member 8 in the top wall, a wick I0 arranged in the wick holding member and extending into fuel chamber 4, and a flint tube I 2 extending upwardly through the fuel chamber and containing conventional means for holding in its upper end a flint l4.

Mounted on the top wall 6 are upwardly extending ears I6, I8 having a space between them. Carried in these ears is a shaft on which is turnably mounted a flint wheel 22 engaging flint [4. The flint wheel has on one face ratchet teeth 24 engageable by a pawl member 26 pushed out from a disc 28 likewise turnably mounted on shaft 20. Disc 28 has an outward extension 30 provided with an opening engaged over a pin 32 rigidly carried by a spacer disc 34 also mounted on shaft 20.

A cover is provided having side walls 36, front wall 38, rear wall and top wall 42. This cover is mounted to pivot on an axis different from that of shaft 20 by the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Adjacent the lower rear corner of ears l6, l8, they are pierced by a pin 44 which extends slightly beyond the outer surfaces of the ears. Side walls 34 of the cover lie closely adjacent the ears, and have openings turnably engaging the ends of pin 44. Threaded in ear I8 is a piece 45 which at its inner end engages pin 44, so as to prevent by its friction axial movement of pin 44. The other end of piece 46 is exposed at the front of ear l8 so as to be accessible when the cover is opened.

On the inner face of front wall 38 of the cover is the flat portion 48 of a supporting and engaging member. This portion has an opening '50, in which engages the rounded nose of a hollow piston member 52. Piston member 52 is slidable within a cylinder 54 carried by spacer disc 34. Between the piston and cylinder, and

resiliently urging them apart, is a coil spring 56 which extends into the hollows of both these members.

Piece 48 has an extension 683 along the side wall, this extension being further bent around as at 62 into substantially cylindrical form. Cylindrical portion 62 has slots 64 therein, in which engages a pin 6% carried in the top of a snuffer cap 68 above the wick iii. A coil spring 'lll arranged above the snuffer cap urges it into wick engaging position.

of my invention, I wish The arrangement operates as follows:

When the lighter is in closed position (broken line position, Fig. 3) the operator lifts the cap to the open position shown in solid lines. The first portion of such movement pushes piston 52 into cylinder 54 against the action of spring 56, this resistance tending to hold the cover re-, siliently in closed position. As the cover rises, engagement of the end of piston 52 in hole 50 causes piston 54 -tOrSWjI'l-E and thus turns disc 34 carrying with it disc 28. Tooth "26 engaging ratchet teeth 24 turns fiint wheel 22 to throw sparks on the wick and ignite it. When the cover reaches open position, the cylinder and 'piston structure has passed the common plane of the axes of pivots 20 and 44, and thus acts to hold the cover resiliently in open position. When the cover is closed, snuffer cap 68 engages over wick l0 and extinguishes the fiame. The snuffer cap'engages wick holder 8 resiliently, by virtue of spring 110, :and thus :prevents leakage of fuel from'the Wick.

Theuse of the amember 48, :60 provides a simple structural improvement by whichthe connection betweenthe operating means in the cover and the supporting of the snuffer cap are efiectively combined in a single operation. The mounting of the cover shown particularly in Fig. 2 holds thecover .pivoted on the bodyin anextremely effective and simple fashion while allowing ready removalif any repairs :are necessary.

While .I have described herein one "embodiment it to be understood that I do not intend toclimit'myself thereby except within-the soope of the claims hereto "or hereinafter appended.

' means including ears upstanding vfrom said body and located within the cover when in covering position, said cover ,having side walls next to the outer surfaces of said ears, a pin extending through said ears and turnably engaged in said side walls, and a piece threaded in one of said ears and engaging said pin to prevent displacement thereof, said piece being accessible when said cover is in uncovering position.

2. In a cigarette lighter, a body, a wick, a cover, means pivotally mounting said cover on said body for movement between positions coveringand uncovering said-wick, ignitini means for 'saidwick, and means operativly connecting said cover to said igniting means to operate the same when the cover is moved to uncovering position,

said-connecting means including resilient means for yieldingly holding said cover in either covering -'or uncovering position, said igniting means comprisinga-tflint wheel pivoted to turn about an axis spaced from and higher than the axis of said cover mounting means, said connecting means comprising a first member mounted to turnaaboutthesame axisas said flint wheelzand a second membier slidably carried by said "first member and operatively connected .to said ccover, means :urging said members apart, a one-way connection between said first member and said flint wheel, a piece :securedon the :interior' of the front wall of the cover, the operative connection between the second memberand the cover comprising a recess Jin-said last piece and a rounded end on saidwsecond imember engaging :in said recess, said 'last piece :having a part extending therefrom above the wick 'and bent :into substantially cylindrical .form, and a'snufier cap for the wick carried by sai'dpart.

IRVING FLORMAN.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the tfil-e of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number Name :Date

1,889,898 Kellermann 'Dec. .6, 1932 1,925.;933 Py :Sept. 5,1933 2,194,844- EBOlle .Mar. 26, 1-940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 465,663 Great Britain May 11, 1937 624,593 Germany Jan. 24, 1936 

